Daily associations among self‐control, heavy episodic drinking, and relationship functioning: An examination of actor and partner effects

Abstract

An emerging literature suggests that temporary deficits in the ability to inhibit impulsive urges may be proximally associated with intimate partner aggression. The current study examined the experience of alcohol use and the depletion of self-control in the prediction of relationship functioning. Daily diary data collected from 118 heterosexual couples were analyzed using parallel multi-level Actor Partner Interdependence Models to assess the effects of heavy episodic drinking and depletion of self-control across partners on outcomes of participant-reported daily arguing with and anger toward an intimate partner. Heavy episodic drinking among actors predicted greater arguing but failed to interact with either actor or partner depletion. We also found that greater arguing was reported on days of high congruent actor and partner depletion. Both actor and partner depletion, as well as their interaction, predicted greater partner-specific anger. Greater partner-specific anger was generally reported on days of congruent actor and partner depletion, particularly on days of high partner depletion. The current results highlight the importance of independently assessing partner effects (i.e., depletion of self-control), which interact dynamically with disinhibiting actor effects, in the prediction of daily adverse relationship functioning. Results offer further support for the development of prospective individualized and couples-based interventions for partner conflict.

Emotion regulation dimensions and relationship satisfaction in clinical couples

“…One additional partner effect was found such that women's higher impulse control was related to men's higher relationship satisfaction, as hypothesized. This is consistent with previous findings that impulsivity is positively associated with negative relationship outcomes, such as relationship conflict (Crane, Testa, Derrick, & Leonard, ) and relational aggression (Shorey et al, ). Perhaps women's impulsivity leads to actions that negatively influence their partner's evaluation of their relationship.…”

Insecure attachment styles, relationship-drinking contexts, and marital alcohol problems: Testing the mediating role of relationship-specific drinking-to-cope motives.

“…Future research is necessary to tease apart the roles and prevalence of violent vs. non-violent marital alcohol problems in the drinking processes of anxious individuals. This is particularly true for future research using daily diary or laboratory methodologies where the process effects of alcohol and related problems can be more proximally examined (e.g., Crane, Testa, Derrick, & Leonard, 2014) relative to the current longitudinal study. Nevertheless, the current findings suggest targets for couples prevention and intervention efforts involving anxious individuals and their partners.…”

An actor–partner interdependence model of the Dark Triad and aggression in couples: Relationship duration moderates the link between psychopathy and argumentativeness

“…Because we analyzed couples, we used a series of actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006). APIMs are a standard way to analyze dyadic data (Brunell et al, 2010;Brunell, Pilkington, & Webster, 2007;Brunell & Webster, 2013;Smith et al, 2014;Webster, Laurenceau, et al, 2015) and are used in aggression research (Crane, Testa, Derrick, & Leonard, 2014;Dickson et al, 2015;Parrott et al, 2012;Watkins, Maldonado, & DiLillo, 2014). APIMs estimate actor and partner effects simultaneously.…”